Transcript JAN BRIDGET

Homophobia within a Single
Equality Framework
Outline:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What is oppression?
What is privilege?
What is homophobia?
Where does it come from?
What are its effects?
a.
b.
Homosexuals
Heterosexuals
What is Oppression?
Victimisation
Power imbalance
Bullying
Lack of Rights
Discrimination
Less eligibility
Disempowerment
Low self worth
Lack of respect
Alienation
Being kept down
Feeling of isolation
Internalised oppression
Being made to feel worthless and
inferior
Social control disguised as being 'for
the good of society'
Restrictions/barriers to freedom of
behaviour, speech
Can be overt and covert attitudes and
behaviour that stops others from being
themselves
Brow-beaten into another's way of
living
Abuse/misuse of power
Not being allowed to own views
Effect of socialisation
What is Privilege?
PRIVILEGE: The rights, advantages and
immunities enjoyed by a small usually
powerful group or class, especially to the
disadvantage of others.
Unearned Privilege
Privileges or advantages one gets just
because one belongs to a valued group in
society, not because of individual efforts
which ‘earned’ them, but simply because of
involuntary membership in a privileged group
‘Being born with a silver spoon in your mouth’
Example: left-handed people
Table Exercise:
Heterosexual Privilege
Heterosexual privilege questionnaire in
pack
Read through individually
Discuss your responses with colleagues
on table
Who is Oppressed? Privileged?
Lower Class
Women
BME Groups
Disabled Groups
Old People
Young People
Some religious groups
LGBTs
Poor
Learning Difficulties
Size
Travellers
Mental Health
Drug users
HIV + People
Unemployed
External Effects of Oppression
PRIVILEGED
GROUP
OPPRESSED
GROUP
Better Education
Worse Education
Higher & Wider
Horizons
Lower & Narrower
Horizons
Better
Employment
Opportunities
Worse
Employment
Opportunities
More Job
Satisfaction
Less Job
Satisfaction
Better Pay
Worse Pay
Less
Unemployment
More
Unemployment
More Independent
from Family
More
Status
Less Trouble
with Law
Less Independent
from Family
Less
Status
More Trouble
with Law
Less Homelessness
& Better Housing
More
Power
Better
Legal Aid
More Homelessness
Worse Housing
Less
Power
Worse
Legal Aid
Less Harassment
More
Influence
Less Likely
Custodial Sentence
More Harassment
Less
Influence
More Likely
Custodial Sentence
Less Likely be victim
of hate incident
More Social
Outlets
Less Likely
to be Victim
More Likely be victim
of hate incident
Fewer Social
Outlets
More Likely
to be Victim
Internal Effects of Oppression
PRIVILEGED
GROUP
OPPRESSED
GROUP
Greater Visibility
Less Visibility
More Positive
Role Models
Few Positive
Role Models
Few Negative
Stereotypes
More Negative
Stereotypes
More Accepance
Less Acceptance
Less Isolation
More Isolation
INDIVIDUAL
SERVICES
INDIVIDUAL
SERVICES
Stronger Identity
& Self Esteem
More Likely
to Control Services
Weaker Identity
& Self Esteem
Less Likely
to Control Services
Less Vulnerable
to Suggestion
More Research
& Information
More Vulnerable
to Suggestion
Less Research
& Information
More Confidence
& Assertiveness
More Visibility
of Issues
Less Confidence
& Assertiveness
Less Visibility
of Issues
Better Mental Health
More Alternatives
Available
Worse Mental Health
Less Alternatives
Available
Less Need and
Use of
Alcohol & Drugs
More Likely
to Demand
Services
More Need and
Use of
Alcohol & Drugs
Less Likely
to Demand
Services
Better General Health
Better Services
Worse General Health
Worse Services
Pair Exercise
External + Internal frameworks in pack
Identify which oppressed and privileged
groups belong to
Share an example of oppression and an
example of privilege you have
experience
2.5 minutes each
What is homophobia?
HOMOPHOBIA
HETEROSEXISM
The recognised or
unrecognised fear or
hatred of
homosexuals or
homosexuality that is
present in both
heterosexuals and
homosexuals.
Discrimination
against homosexuals
based on the belief
that heterosexuality
is better than
homosexuality.
EVERYONE is
taught to be
homophobic!
Heterosexism is built
into ALL of our
INSTITUTIONS
Putting it another way…
Similar definitions for racism, sexism,
disablism, ageism, classism….
Two sides to coin: oppression/privilege
Works in similar way against all
oppressed groups (although there are
some important differences)
Where does homophobia come from?
lead young people astray; perverts; poof; sick; mentally Ill; dyke;
lezzie; bender; not natural; all got AIDS; promiscuous; immoral;
queer; brave; no grandchildren; mothers fault; fathers fault; can't be
trust with children; arrested development; lesbians haven't met a
real man; hormone imbalance; lesbians want to be men; lesbian
hate children; lesbians are afraid of childbirth; lesbians wear male
clothing; lesbians are all truck drivers; it's a phase; its a crime
against nature; it's caused by a genetic defect; lesbians are ugly;
gay men are limp-wristed sissies; they only live in cities; it's a
western/white disease; it's a capitalist diseases; one of them; lesley;
lemon; ginger; effeminate; indecent; that way inclined; hijra; chhaka;
battyman; eccentric; should be shot; artistic; individual; strong; flatheeled brigade; bent; homo's; one of those; sexual deviant; fairies;
queens; dangerous; outrageous; woolly woofters; ass poppers; shirt
lifters; sex abusers; carry disease; ...
Creation & Perpetuation of
Homophobia
• Similar lists for all oppressed groups
• We are not born with these ideas
• Apart from language, what are the six
main institutions that create and
perpetuate homophobia (sexism,
racism, disablism, etc)
RELIGION: It’s a Sin
Anglicanism: ‘homosexual genital acts fall
short of the ideal’ (gay priests)
Catholicism: ‘homosexuality is an aberrant
deviation’ (pope)
Judaism: Late Lord Jakobovits – abortion of
foetus if homosexual
Islam: Late Dr Siddique: elimination of gays
– gays assassinated in some countries
Medicine: It’s a
Sickness
Homosexuality classed as sickness in Britain
until 1993 – put into mental institutions
Causes: arrested development, a phase,
immature, parent’s fault: too distant, too
close
We can help you change – electro shock;
lobotomy; Christian therapy
Recent research: combination including
genetic & environmental with a genetic
predisposition
Little acknowledgement of effects on mental
wellbeing = lack of services
LAW: Significant
Changes
Until recently

Age of Consent: illegal for gay men under 18/21 (lesbians
invisible) until 2001

Section 28: no ‘promotion’ of homosexuality repealed
2003

Employment (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003

Civil partnership 2005

Goods & Services 2007

Criminal Justice & Immigration 2008 (incitement to hatred
based on sexual orientation)
Still hierarchy of oppression – even with Single Equality Bill –
Duty to challenge homophobia
Allows religious homophobia
MEDIA: It’s
Entertainment
Used to be invisible or negative images
– perverts, pansies, predatory – still
stereotypes
Sensationalise – lipstick lesbians (or
pornography), camp gay men
Allow homophobes to spread hatred &
ignorance ‘in the interest of balance’
Powerful editors
EDUCATION: It’s
Invisible
No/few visible role models
Homophobic bullying goes unchallenged
Few books, little information
Limited content in curricula
Creating homophobes
Powerful head teachers
FAMILY: It’s
Heterosexual
Brought up to be heterosexual
Brought up with parents (often
negative) views
Parents usually ignorant of effects of
homophobia on child
Some disown or don’t want to know
Initially often preoccupied with their
own responses to be able to support
child
What are the effects
on LGBT Youth?
Isolation from family, friends, society,
peers
Pressure to conform, family rejection,
homelessness
School: Isolation, bullying, truancy,
drop-out, poor exam results
Verbal, physical, mental harassment
Internalising Stigmatised
Identity
Like all minority groups, LGBT young people
internalise negative messages
Some minority groups have the support and
understanding of their families and friends to
challenge internalised messages
Others might not, for example, Black and
Minority Ethnic Adoptees, as video extract
from Adult Adoptees shows.
What are the effects
on heterosexuals?
PSYCHOLOGICAL
Do not internalise stigmatised (inferior/bad) sexual
identity – internalise superior/good sexual identity
resulting in higher self esteem (but classism, racism,
disableism, sexism)
Not dealing with demons of homophobia during
adolescence, not question ‘who am I?’ in relation to
sexual orientation –get on with‘being straight’ developing social skills, relationship skills,
communication skills, get on with education/exams
Affects attitudes and behaviour
ATTITUDES
1983: 50% of adults surveyed believed
sexual relationships between people of samesex always wrong
1985: 59% (AIDS)
1989: 58%
1992:



41% between two men
37% between two women
23% between stable gay/lesbian couple
Mori Poll (2001) 1,693 adults
15+
95% acknowledged existence of prejudice
against minority groups
36% said they held no prejudice against any
minority
64% prejudiced against at least one group
Of these, 16% hard core – antipathy towards
3 or more minority group
Strong correlation between holding
homophobic and racist views
Table Exercise: Personal
Homophobia
Hand out in pack
Complete individually
Discuss findings with colleagues on
table
BELIEFS = BEHAVIOUR = One extreme:
Less Powerful People
HHC is prevalent all over the UK (remember, so is hate crime
based on race, gender, disability…)
Approximate levels experienced:
All HHC
35-75%
55%
Verbal
30-70%
45%
Harassment
10-35%
17%
Vandalism
10-30%
19%
Physical
5-25%
12%
BELIEFS = BEHAVIOUR = A second
extreme
Powerful People: Stopping Support
Dec 1987: L.A. Tory leader,
after watching film on safer
sex said: “The film said how
to avoid AIDS, but it did not
say specifically stop being
queer. It’s disgusting and
diabolical. As a cure I would
put 90% of them in the
ruddy gas chamber. Are we
going to keep letting these
queers trade their filth up
and down the country?”
2004: Tory councillor tries to
stop grant to GALYIC.
1994: Dr Colin Newman,
executive secretary of British
Psychological Society said
“By accepting a Section
devoted to the study of
lesbianism, the Society will
be giving a public signal that
it endorses behaviour which,
by the biblical standards
they personally seek to
follow, is incompatible with
their own standards of
morality.” Took another 4
years to set up LGB section.
2009: Who doesn’t want a duty
placed on tackling
homophobia?
Shire Professional (2009)
Feed ID
High
Elevated
Mid
Low
SO Gay
122
7%
8%
20%
65%
SO Lesbian
123
3%
4%
34%
59%
EO Asian
106
2%
5%
21%
72%
EO SE
Asian
108
1%
5%
12%
82%
EO Black
107
1%
4%
20%
75%
Disability
149
1%
4%
15%
80%
Age
118
1%
4%
11%
84%
Gender
137
1%
2%
2%
95%